Passengers onboard doomed cruise liner the Coral Adventurer break their silence after series of catastrophes
Passengers had paid more than $13,000 each to board the 12-day luxury trip.
- 80 Aussies have slammed the cruise liner after their luxury trip was cut short
- Passengers said they felt 'in danger' after they were stranded at sea for days
- READ MORE: Coral Adventurer is DETAINED after becoming stranded
By MAISY RAE
Published: 10:43 GMT, 2 January 2026 | Updated: 10:43 GMT, 2 January 2026
Passengers aboard a Queensland cruise ship have slammed the cruise liner as 'disappointing' and 'disgraceful' after they were left stranded at sea off the coast of Papua New Guinea.
The Coral Adventurer, which was carrying 123 people including 80 Aussies, departed Cairns on December 18.
Passengers had paid more than $13,000 each to board the 12-day luxury trip.
However the voyage unravelled when the ship ran aground on a reef off the Finschaffen Coast, east of Lae and about 30km north of Port Moresby, on December 27.
According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the collision left the ship tilted six degrees to the left (port side), with passengers left stranded for the final four days of the journey.
No injuries were reported.
After taking a chartered flight which landed in Cairns on Tuesday night, passengers told the waiting media of their frustration.
'Disappointed, disillusioned and it's disgraceful,' one traveller told 7News.
The Coral Adventurer has been detained by authorities following the latest incident
Ursula Daus said she feared for her safety after becoming stranded at sea
The boat ran aground on a reef off the Finschaffen Coast in Papua New Guinea
Passenger Ursula Daus, who is from Berlin, said she felt like she was 'in danger.'
'And then they said we are safe for another four days. And it was horrible,' she said.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has now detained the Coral ship as it examines what went wrong during the latest voyage.
The ship's operators told Daily Mail initial inspections by divers found no significant damage to the vessel's hull.
'Coral Expeditions regrets the grounding of its vessel and apologises to our passengers,' the company said in a statement.
Travellers have been offered refunds or discounts to sail again with the company.
It's believed the Coral Adventurer was 'refloated' on New Year's Eve following a coordinated multi-agency operation, including 'Pacific Towing Tugboats' and the Lae Water Police.
After the passengers disembarked, they were transported by buses arranged by the Australian High Commission to Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport.